I grew up in Chelsea and Newton, Mass. and now make my home in Arlington. I taught high school in Haverhill and Burlington until 2007, and have been a writer for about as long as I was a teacher. Maybe longer. While much of my writing is business-
...

I grew up in Chelsea and Newton, Mass. and now make my home in Arlington. I taught high school in Haverhill and Burlington until 2007, and have been a writer for about as long as I was a teacher. Maybe longer. While much of my writing is business-related, I also write whenever I travel and I travel whenever I can.

The Rock of Gibraltar. I always thought, ‘big rock’. Not quite, More like formidable 1,400 foot peak rising dramatically out of the waters between Spain and the African coast.

GibraltarAnd it t is definitely not just a rock: it’s a populated, busy, strategic, four square mile (6.5 square km) island with about 30,000 people. Gibraltar belongs to the United Kingdom (not Spain); United States citizens show passports; others need visas. And in we go.
From the shore, through the mist, I can see Morocco.

The coast of Africa seen in the distant hazeOur local guide gives us some interesting immigration statistics. One fourth of the 500,000 illegal immigrants who enter Europe each year come through Spain, arriving from the Strait of Gibraltar. Two things strike me about this. First, the proximity of Africa. From this little section of Europe, Africa is only ten miles away. Second, the illegal immigrant problem that is always making news at home is not unique to the US, but is a widespread issue. Apparently people all over the world are still doing what humans have always done: migrating toward a better life one way or another.
Our exploration of Gibraltar will begin at the island’s peak with a tour of St. Michaels Cave. As our vehicle climbs the streets to the summit, our local guide tells us that we’ll not only see beautiful caves and limestone formations, but monkeys. Right after he says that, we slow down in our approach to the cave, and a monkey, baby clinging to her, leaps onto the driver side window and tries to grab the steering wheel. I’m in the front seat and no, I am not making this up. Check this video: http://tinyurl.com/drivingmonkey St. Michael’s cave is beautiful, with captivating natural formations; stalactites and stalagmites, natural pools. There are numerous caves in Gibraltar, the result of sea water eroding limestone over millions of years. Many of these caves are high-ceilinged and spacious chambers.

During World War II, one of these halls was prepared for use as an emergency room, although that use was never required. The largest cave chamber is now an auditorium with ideal acoustical qualities for concerts. We continue through the cave, exiting near a shop (of course) where we will meet our driver. I see that several of the Gibraltar monkeys are waiting outside to greet the tourists.... oooh, I think...a photo op (hah!).